Dr.+Turner

=Dr. Kristen Turner=

I am in my 16th year in education. Some have been easier than others, but I love teaching. I have a passion for the teaching of writing, and my research focuses on issues related to writing instruction. Currently I am examining the nature of language of adolescent "digitalk." You can read one of my articles about this topic here. My inquiry into this topic was sparked by a conversation with my students in the course you are currently taking!

At home I am the mother of twins, Megan and Ryan. I like to hike, swim, and scrapbook, though I rarely find time to do any of these. In an effort to stay sane, I've been blogging about being a mom on the tenure track. Recently, I apprenticed as a teacher in a preschool, new territory for me, and I composed this digital story about my learning.


 * ODE to CTGE 5531 Fall 2013 **

Because ** In order to access the culture of power, they need to understand the language of power. ** We need to ** Show students the common errors they are making and compare them to the more academic language they will be exposed to over the course of their education. ** And my ** Points of Tensebration. ** //Blitzed and inundated, in a good way // //Analytical // //Persistence // //It’s a Slimy, yet satisfying // //Work in progress. // //A new perspective. // //And we are Coming up for air. //
 * We are excited, and passionate, and have so much to share. **
 * Who among us has all the answers? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I was a grammar nazi. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Grammar instruction was all about tedious worksheets. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I thought that English was spoken either properly or improperly. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve completely changed my mind about that. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Students know a lot more than I thought, **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">But there’s a disparity between vernacular and Standard English. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We can’t just arbitrarily edit what they mean. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve never been in an environment where most of the students, their primary discourse is not English. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why does it matter? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Conventions are important in creating authority and power. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How do we meet them where they are? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We need to teach in a differentiated way. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Literacy includes culture and technology. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m still struggling with that. **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">With all of that
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What did I get myself into? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Did they learn anything? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I still don’t feel like I know enough. **